Delta govt investigates violence at Effurun after APC stakeholders meeting

Facts have emerged on the attack on the Senior Special Assistant on Protocol to the Governor of Delta State, Mr Simon Temple Mudi, at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, where the Delta Central stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress took place on Sunday.

Nigerian Tribune reports that the attack on the governor’s aide and the violence that followed did not take place at the conference hall of the institute, venue of the meeting, but at another location within the expansive PTI complex.

The attack, it was gathered, may not be unconnected with unresolved issues, as aggrieved persons hurled stones, chairs and available objects at him, but he managed to escape with injuries.

Meanwhile, the state government has strongly condemned the violent attack.

According to the State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, in a statement on Tuesday, “the state government was deeply disturbed by videos of the incident circulating on social media and other online platforms.”

Aniagwu, however, noted that the reported acts of violence that occurred, particularly the gruesome attack on Simon Mudi, were unacceptable.

While maintaining that such unruly behaviour would not be tolerated in the state, he said the government has directed security agencies to identify, arrest and prosecute those responsible for the violence.

Aniagwu reaffirmed the Governor Oborevwori administration’s commitment to maintaining peace, law and order, adding that the government would not condone acts of violence regardless of the status or identity of those involved.

On its part, the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has debunked media reports that the stakeholders’ meeting was characterised by violence.

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In a statement issued on Tuesday by the state Publicity Secretary, Valentine Onojeghuo, the party rejected a newspaper’s (not Nigerian Tribune) report titled “Violence Rocks Delta APC Leaders’ Meeting,” insisting that the stakeholders’ meeting was peaceful and concluded without any disruption.

The APC maintained that the meeting was well attended by party leaders and stakeholders and was broadcast live by television stations, arguing that the proceedings were open to public scrutiny and could easily be verified.

The party further contended that the video reportedly relied upon by the newspaper did not originate from the conference hall where the meeting took place but from another location within the expansive PTI complex.

“It is misleading and irresponsible to associate those unrelated scenes with the APC stakeholders’ meeting,” the statement said, adding that such reporting fell short of the ethical standards expected of a reputable media organisation.